"Meaning," the boss continued, "that I'd like to give your hunch a play first."
"But it's not even a hunch," I objected. "How?"
"Well, by having you interview Grogan, for instance...."
I opened my mouth and almost shook my head, but Newell hurried on. "Look, Earl, it's been a long time since Intergalaxy has scored a good news beat. Not since the Memphis exposé, in fact. Remember that? Remember how good it felt to have your name on articles published all over the world? Remember all the extra cash? The fame?"
I grunted.
"Now before you say anything," Newell said, "remember that when you started on that case you didn't have a thing more concrete to go on than you have right now—just a half a hunch. Isn't that right? Admit it!"
"M'm."
"Well, isn't it worth a chance? What can we lose?"
"Me, maybe. But...."
The boss said nothing more. He knew that if he let me do the talking, I'd soon argue myself into it. Which I did.